Critical security hole discovered in Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod devices, fix is on the way
A serious security flaw in Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices was discovered Wednesday and raised concerns about the susceptibility of the tech giant's devices to hacker attacks.
The security hole which uses an infected PDF file to allow hackers access to the Apple device was actually discovered by a downloadable software called "JailbreakMe" that is used to unlock iOS devices. According to the JailbreakMe.com website the software allows users to fully customize their Apple devices the way they want to. Apple doesn't approve of jailbreaking their devices since it is usually used to run apps not from Apple's store or it allows iPhones to work with unauthorized carriers.
The software inadvertently exposed flaws in Apple's OS where the machines can be infected with malware if the user opens an PDF file. This action will allow hackers the administrative rights to the device infected. The FAQ on JailbreakMe.com reads: "I did not create the vulnerabilities, only discover them. Releasing an exploit demonstrates the flaw, making it easier for others to use it for malice, but they have long been present and exploitable. Although releasing a jailbreak is certainly not the usual way to report a vulnerability, it still has the effect of making iOS more secure in the long run."
Apple has broken its silence on the matter by releasing a statement that it is releasing a fix soon. "Apple takes security very seriously, we're aware of this reported issue and developing a fix that will be available to customers in an upcoming software update," an Apple spokeswoman said in a statement.